Every Silent Night Has a Bit of Noise

The birth of Jesus is a worldwide historical phenomenon representing peace that has inspired songs such as "Silent Night". Being a four time veteran of the delivery room, I never did have a silent night bringing forth my children into the world.  In fact, each night (and they all decided to be born at night during normal sleeping hours) was quite noisy and I wasn't feeling the heavenly peace.  I'm pretty sure by the intermittent cries of the women throughout the labor and delivery rooms, that calm and bright are not appropriate adjectives either.   Now mind you, I'm not Mary and I cringe thinking about her riding a donkey for miles and miles at 9 months pregnant.  I suppose people cringed at me leading yoga classes 9 months pregnant.  At least Joseph and Mary had shelter in a barn for the big event, right?  We don't know when Mary's labor began or how long it was, I'm guessing Joseph found a midwife because most first time fathers intuitively don't want to add extra anxiety to the situation and know their wife needs somebody because she is moaning, sweating, and laboring.  Moreover, the universal rule of childbirth says:  Everything a husband says or does while wife is in labor, can  be held against you for eternity.  Childbirth is just flat messy.  I wonder what they did with all of the emerging body excretions in the manger?  Oh wait, they must have used the straw to cover it along with the other animal excretions.

So after a baby is born, the silent night, holy, and heavenly peace become more of a reality.  I was moved to the postpartum unit where all IS really calm and bright and sweet with nurses to wait on you.  Not for Mary, her postpartum unit was a barn, perhaps a few feet away from the big event.   I grew up in a rural area and have played in many a barns and I can attest to you that the ones with animals are stinky and you better watch where you step.  Then comes the visits  by excited relatives who may or may not care to give you a moment to clean up and recover.  For Mary, these were crazy teenagers that have been out watching sheep for who knows how long.   After I delivered babies, I honestly wanted to sleep and snuggle my baby, not visit with strangers who have heard voices.  Poor Mary, away in a manger, no crib for a bed, no proper lodging or other necessities for her first babe, body wounded from childbirth (which is always scariest the first time) and receiving strange visitors ...how silent is that?

This Christmas Eve, as you meditate upon the birth of Jesus,  thank God for your silent night remembering every silent night has a bit of noise.